87 million euros for green hydrogen: Saxony-Anhalt is investing in the future!

87 million euros for green hydrogen: Saxony-Anhalt is investing in the future!

Something exciting is happening in the Central German region: At the end of this week, two new calls for funding will be launched by the Saxony-Anhalt Ministry of Energy, which will invest heavily in the sustainable hydrogen economy. As the Magdeburg News reported, a total of 87 million euros are available from the European Just Transition Fund (JTF). The aim is not only to use these funds to promote structural change in the former coal region, but also to support the climate-neutral transformation of the industry.

Companies in Saxony-Anhalt can submit their funding applications to the Investitionsbank Sachsen-Anhalt until August 7, 2025. The focus is particularly on companies that operate in energy-intensive key sectors such as the chemical industry. It's time to make a good deal for the environment and the economy!

Funding calls in detail

The first call for funding entitled “Green Hydrogen. Electrolysers” envisages a volume of 58 million euros. The construction and connection of electrolyzers and hydrogen storage facilities at power plant sites and former brown coal mines are supported. But that's not all: the subsidy for the construction of an electrolyser will be increased from a maximum of 650,000 euros to a full two million euros per megawatt of output, which can make the difference for companies.

The second funding call “Saxony-Anhalt Future Energies/Green Hydrogen” brings an additional 29 million euros and promotes measures to link the energy sectors. This includes building new hydrogen pipelines and repurposing existing natural gas pipelines. The Energy Ministry of Saxony-Anhalt has noticeably improved the funding conditions: the upper limit for “funding efficiency” has now also been raised to two million euros. This means that companies receive even better financial support.

Regional commitment

The programs are aimed at companies with headquarters or a permanent establishment in the Saxony-Anhalt structural change region, which includes, among others, the Burgenlandkreis, Saalekreis, Mansfeld-Südharz, Anhalt-Bitterfeld and the city of Halle (Saale). The state government has set itself the goal of actively supporting structural change in the brown coal region structuringchange.sachsen-anhalt.de highlights.

Not only companies are in demand, but also communities and community associations that can come up with innovative proposals for industrial and commercial areas. This is a clear call to action: Anyone who has the right ideas can hope for support that can cover up to 90% of the eligible costs. Particular attention is paid to the energy concept and transport connections, which are important for sustainable development.

Overall, the state government's initiative shows that it has a good hand for the rise of the hydrogen economy. If this course is maintained, the Central German Revier could soon be on the map as a model region for green hydrogen production. It remains exciting to see how companies and municipalities will use this opportunity!